A serious car or motorcycle accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries, piling medical bills or lost earning capacity. If your accident was caused by the negligence of another, you may be eligible for compensation to help with your losses.
However, many people are unfamiliar with and overwhelmed by the legal process involved in both filing a suit and receiving a settlement. If you take it step by step, this process may not be as challenging as it seems.
1. File a Lawsuit
The first step in the process is, fittingly, filing the lawsuit. Make sure all of your numbers, records, and other paperwork is in order before you file, and talk with your attorney to make sure all of your ducks are in a row.
2. Present the Lawsuit
Your attorney will present your case for compensation to the insurance company of the individual who acted negligently and caused the accident. The negligent party’s insurance company may require you to be examined by one of their doctors in order to validate your injury claims.
3. Receive an Offer
If your injuries and other claims for losses check out with the negligent party’s insurance company, you will likely receive an offer to settle your claim. Once you’ve received a settlement offer, you and your attorney will discuss whether or not you believe that the offer is sufficient for covering the full extent of damages caused by your accident.
4. Negotiate
Your attorney will take care of negotiating a fair settlement offer with the negligent party’s insurance company if you feel you are owed more for your losses than originally offered.
5. Settle or Continue in Court
If your attorney and the insurance company reach an agreement, you will settle with the compensation offered. If there’s enough evidence that you deserve more, however, you may be advised by your attorney to take the case to court in order to have a judge or jury decide.
If the judge or jury come to a decision that you and your attorney don’t approve of, you do have the right to appeal to a higher court.
To have the highest chance possible of receiving due compensation for your car or motorcycle accident, it’s important to hire an attorney who fully understands the unique challenges that auto accident cases often present.
At Lorenzo & Lorenzo, we have navigated many accident cases and are ready to work with you to secure the best possible outcome. Contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help.
